Tom Anselmi, who didn’t get the coveted CEO job with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, is moving on rather than stay in his limited role.

Anselmi, 57, ended an eventful 17 years with the billion-dollar company on Friday by announcing his resignation. Starting back in 1996, he oversaw the delicate arena merger with the Raptors at the ACC, was chief operating officer of MLSE, point man for landing and later running the expansion soccer team and, most recently, succeeding Richard Peddie as the growing sports and business empire’s president.

But rather than pick the Toronto native when they sought to fill the big CEO chair, incoming owners from Bell and Rogers pursued a bigger fish, American Tim Leiweke from Anschutz Entertainment.

“Of course I was disappointed,” Anselmi told the Sun on Friday afternoon. “But sometimes organizations need change and new owners get to decide it.

“Tim and I discussed it the past couple of days. I’ve known him a while. We came to the conclusion the company did not need two presidents. There was not enough role and scope for me and the company needs clarity of leadership.”

Anselmi said his decision was not linked to Leiweke’s major revamping of TFC in recent days. Anselmi helped launch the team as a model MLS franchise before appointing a series of ineffective front-office personnel and coaches who failed to win while alienating a huge fan base.

“We brought soccer back to Toronto, we changed the league and I’m proud of that,” Anselmi said. “But at the end of the day, we didn’t get results on the field.”

Anselmi also acknowledged the difficulties the Leafs and Raptors have had in the win column, but said the hockey club’s return to the playoffs last season was encouraging and recent moves with the basketball team should pay off.

He took the flak in public whenever the Leafs missed the playoffs or the NHL’s highest ticket prices kept rising, but he also had MLSE back several community and charity ventures. He also made a few trips to Afghanistan to visit Leaf fans among the front-line Canadian forces.

“It’s been a good 17-year run, but a lot of hard times,” said Anselmi. “The past two have seen a lockout in two sports and the sale of the company. There were some highs and lows, but it was a privilege for a poor kid from West End Toronto to be president of a company like this.”

Anselmi has no other job plans at present, hoping to spend more time with his family.

“The entire organization, including our ownership group, is grateful to Tom for his many contributions,” Leiweke said in a release.

Tom Anselmi resigns, says MLSE 'did not need two presidents'

Tom Anselmi, who didn’t get the coveted CEO job with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, is moving on rather than stay in his limited role.

Anselmi, 57, ended an eventful 17 years with the billion-dollar company on Friday by announcing his resignation. Starting back in 1996, he oversaw the delicate arena merger with the Raptors at the ACC, was chief operating officer of MLSE, point man for landing and later running the expansion soccer team and, most recently, succeeding Richard Peddie as the growing sports and business empire’s president.

But rather than pick the Toronto native when they sought to fill the big CEO chair, incoming owners from Bell and Rogers pursued a bigger fish, American Tim Leiweke from Anschutz Entertainment.

“Of course I was disappointed,” Anselmi told the Sun on Friday afternoon. “But sometimes organizations need change and new owners get to decide it."